Thornkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Finally, the first kit to reach six moons since her own ceremony. Birdchaser had been watching, waiting, keeping a close eye on the nursery. Whether she was eager to stand before the Clan or horrified of the thought, she couldn't quite decide... but there was no more putting it off. With one more look towards the sheltered den, Birdchaser bunched her haunches and sprang for the Tallbranch. It was a higher jump than she guessed, and she almost slipped, but caught her balance quick enough. Facing the camp, she screwed her face up in thought for a long series of heartbeats as she recalled the meeting call before finally yowling, "All cats old enough to climb a tree, gather beneath the Tallbranch for a Clan meeting!"

Thornkit poked her head out of the nursery with a slight scowl. She had gotten a little bit bigger since the first time out of the nursery, but things still weren't her size.. She didn't think they were ever going to be but didn't mean she had to be happy about the development. With a final huff, she pulled herself fully out of the nursery and joined the clan in the meeting spot. It was time for her ceremony wasn't it? That meant a new den.. Another thing to get adjusted to. She didn't know how to feel about that. It was still bigger than the nursery though.. so maybe it was a good thing?

As the Clan gathered below her, Birdchaser kept her eyes riveted on the nursery– and soon enough, a fiery little shape emerged, her face screwed up. The deputy snorted with amusement, watching as the kit approached. Didn't most kits look a little more enthusiastic for this? Excited or not, the ceremony was happening. So they'd both be a little flustered for it. "Thornkit, you've reached the age of six moons, and so it's time for you to become an apprentice." The formal speech felt odd leaving her own mouth, like she wasn't meant to be giving the address. Clearing her throat, "From now until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Thornpaw. Your mentor will be Wolfblossom. She's reasonable and level-headed, and I know my sister will train you well." Hopefully she'd done well, and hadn't botched the whole thing... and hopefully Wolfblossom and the newly-named Thornpaw got on as well as she hoped. Leaping down from the branch, Birdchaser joined the crowd in cheering the new apprentice's name.

Wolfblossom smiled to herself as Birdchaser leapt up onto the tallbranch. It was still strange to think of her as anything other than her sister, but she was deputy now, and with that came responsibilities like calling the clan together for ceremonies. Wolfblossom wasn't sure how she would've felt if she had to stand in front of the clan like that, but she could only imagine it as being disconcerting. All she could do was offer Birdchaser a small smile of encouragement.

The kit who was called from the nursery hardly seemed enthusiastic, and Wolfblossom wondered at that. It was probably just the heat that she herself was learning to despise, or maybe it was nerves. She hardly had a moment to ponder however, as the suddenness of her name being called made Wolfblossom's wide eyes swing back toward Birdchaser in a moment of surprise. "I'll do my best," She dipped her head to the deputy, feeling her pelt warm with sudden nervous energy. She'd barely been made a warrior, and now she had an apprentice of her own!

Turning back towards the newly-named Thornpaw, Wolfblossom padded forward with a cheery wave of her fluffy tail. "Congratulations, Thornpaw," The large she-cat leaned down, gently touching her nose to that of her new apprentice's. "Chin up, yeah? We'll start training tomorrow. Take today to get your new nest set up and meet your denmates."

Wolfblossom? Well it certainly wasn't a name she was expecting.. She hoped that the warrior was a good one, that she would do well under this warrior's training. Blue eyes turned to the crowd hoping to be able to pick out her mentor, but it wasn't hard it turned out. Because for some reason the deputy had to pick the biggest warrior in the group to be her mentor.

Thornpaw couldn't help the scowl that crossed her face when Wolfblossom approached. The size difference was immediately clear, and the apprentice didn't like it. It was clear the camp was designed around this warrior instead of someone more average sized it seemed. No wonder she felt small in the camp all the time.

The scowl dropped once the warrior spoke to her, as much as she didn't like the size difference this was her mentor after all. Someone who even congratulated her, and seemed to encourage her for their upcoming training. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.. And then of course she had to mention moving into the other den.. Stars.. would that den dwarf her too?